The head of the Vermont Compost Co. is joining with organic farmers and a Vermont lawmaker to argue that his product should be exempt from the state's 6 percent sales tax.
Karl Hammer made the remarks at a news conference outside the state Tax Department on Monday before delivering a letter appealing a bill from the state for more than $115,000 in back sales taxes.
The Tax Department cites a 2007 change in state law that says compost is not exempt from the tax.
Those speaking at the news conference said other agricultural products are exempt, and that the effect of the rule is to support conventional agriculture while denying that support to organic farming.
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